Violence Against Women
Source: A Safe World for Women
Interview with Mirina Nanziri, Field Partners Coordinator & Editor, EACO Uganda.
By Jennifer Timmons, Safeworld Field Partners Manager & Editor
"Hopelessness is the greatest challenge for the women's progress; some women see themselves as if they cannot attain anything."
Poverty, HIV/AIDS, violence against women, gender discrimination, child kidnappings and child sacrifice, lack of nearby water sources, and lack of education combine to make a potent recipe for hopelessness among women in children in Uganda's rural communities.
One grassroots organisation, Empower and Care Organization (EACO), situated in the Mukono District in central Uganda, has been working hard to address these issues since its founding in 2004 through various outreach projects.
EACO’s activities are targeted toward vulnerable women, particularly widows and those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as vulnerable children, youth, and the elderly. The local community is largely rural and the majority of the population are subsistence farmers.
"Considering that in EACO’s community, 74% of members of the general public earn less than two dollars a day and 71% of widows earn less than one dollar a day, the Vocational Life Skills Program meets an urgent need in the community – and has succeeded in making 80 community members financially independent." - Mirina Nanziri.
Jen Timmons interviewed Mirina Nanziri about her work with EACO to tackle the challenges faced by the women and children.